YOU CAN MAKE A DIFFERENCE! Information on wildlife crimes can be reported anonymously 24 hours a day. Ethical hunters, anglers and wildlife watchers provide the best information to catch criminals. Your tips and eyewitness accounts are invaluable in protecting wildlife and punishing poachers. FWC Wildlife...
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Diving, Fishing, Wildlife Mobsters
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The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) invites Florida residents and visitors to take an active role in conservation by reporting fish and wildlife observations with the new FWC Reporter app. From fish kills to exotic species, to trapped or injured wildlife, FWC Reporter...
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Exotic Invasives, Keys Critters, Wildlife Mobsters
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Gov. Rick Scott has signed a watered-down bill initially proposed to stop the shark finning trade in Florida. The bill, signed Tuesday 5/23/17, does increase penalties for shark finning and codifies a Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission rule prohibiting this practice, but does not...
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Fishing, Wildlife Mobsters
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A 37-year-old Hialeah man accused of poaching snappers Friday, Nov. 27, while fishing from a bridge was arrested by a Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission officer. The man was charged with possession of undersized yellowtail snapper, possession of undersized mangrove snapper and possession of...
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Fishing, Islamorada, Wildlife Mobsters
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A Marathon man who was caught with a mutilated, endangered sea turtle last spring, along with possessing undersized stone crab claws and lobster out of season, is set to have his day in court this month. Serguei Perez-Perdomo, 38, was arrested May 8, 2014. after...
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Keys Critters, Wildlife Mobsters
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A Summerland Key [Lobster Mobster] fisherman [in the past he has been identified as from Big Pine Key] arrested in October 2014 for lobster fishing with hundreds of illegal traps was arrested again Thursday for lying on a wildlife form about his marine violation history,...
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Big Pine Key, Fishing, Wildlife Mobsters
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More than 100 marine-resource conservation counts were filed against a Marathon man late Monday after law officers surprised a boat making a nocturnal landing. Jose Carlos Acosta Arias, 37, was carrying a mesh bag with 77 wrung lobster tails when he stepped off a "blacked-out...
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Marathon, Wildlife Mobsters
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SOUTH REGION B - MONROE COUNTY Lieutenant Payne along with Officers Piekenbrock and Martino were on routine water patrol in Waltz Key Basin north of Key West. Shortly after sunset the officers noticed a small skiff returning from offshore with no running lights. The officers followed...
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Islamorada, Key West, Tavernier, Wildlife Mobsters
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A state marine officer found two undersized nurse sharks and a dead moray eel while inspecting a catch made from an Islamorada dock Thursday. Officer Paul Hein of the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission spotted several people fishing off a private dock near Tea...
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Fishing, Islamorada, Wildlife Mobsters
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Four Homestead men aboard a 15-foot skiff off North Key Largo were arrested Sunday on multiple conservation charges Sunday, state marine officers report. Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission officers recovered a mesh bag from the bottom of Angelfish Creek, agency spokesman Officer Bobby...
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Diving, Fishing, Key Largo, Wildlife Mobsters
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Two Miami men who were caught with the tail of an endangered loggerhead sea turtle in Marathon in January are scheduled to appear before County Judge Ruth Becker Aug. 27 for a hearing. Possessing sea turtles or any part of them is against the law....
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Keys Critters, Marathon, Wildlife Mobsters
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A Big Pine Key fisherman arrested in October for lobster fishing with hundreds of illegal traps was ordered Thursday to surrender 400 traps, effectively cutting his fishing capabilities in half, according to court records. David Lee Boggs, 51, was ultimately charged with more than 100 counts...
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Fishing, Wildlife Mobsters
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Jon Hazelbaker captures a legal lobster on a patch reef off Big Pine Key. The Fort Myers Beach resident and researchers say lobsters are scarce in the Keys, but commercial fishermen say the popular crustaceans are plentiful.(Photo: Kevin Lollar/The News-Press) With all the lawyer jokes...
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Diving, Fishing, Wildlife Mobsters
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Three [Lobster Mobsters] fishermen convicted of robbing lobster traps and possession of undersized lobsters in June stemming from their September 2011 arrest were banned from commercial lobster fishing for life and two of them were given prison time. The captain of the Marathon-based commercial lobster...
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Fishing, Wildlife Mobsters
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By KEVIN WADLOW When lobster-resource violations reach the egregious point, Florida Keys prosecutors "will take it very, very seriously," State Attorney Catherine Vogel cautions. "All those people out there for lobster mini-season next week need to be aware they cannot take undersized lobster, wring tails on...
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Diving, Fishing, Wildlife Mobsters
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A Miami man reeled in a lobster at Tavernier Creek, leading to a Wednesday case filed by the FWC. Robert R. Harden, 21, was booked on three conservation counts. FWC Officer Chris Mattson was on road patrol at Tavernier Creek at mile marker 91 when...
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Fishing, Islamorada, Tavernier, Wildlife Mobsters
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BY KEVIN WADLOW kwadlow@keynoter.com A Tennessee man found off Key West with 63 lobster tails was booked into jail on 156 resource conservation counts Thursday, state marine officers report. Charles J. Emanuel, 38, of Signal Mountain was snorkeling off a canoe at the Sigsbee Ledge,...
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Diving, Key West, Wildlife Mobsters
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BY KEVIN WADLOW kwadlow@keynoter.com Marine officers apparently have video of Carlos Hernandez riding the turtle. Riding a sea turtle and spearing a shark near Conch Key put a Miami man in jail Sunday, state marine officers report. Carlos A. Hernandez, 31, was booked into the...
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Keys Critters, Long Key, Wildlife Mobsters
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Tuesday, July 14, 2015 Law enforcement had a busy Sunday, arresting two men for spearfishing illegally including one who was allegedly harassing a sea turtle, and chasing a fleeing vehicle through the Key Haven subdivision. In the turtle case, a passerby on the south end of...
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Keys Critters, Wildlife Mobsters
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21-year-old Hialeah man was arrested Sunday on multiple lobster-related charges after FWC officers found him illegally spearing lobster near Banana Bay Resort in Marathon, Dipre said. Yasmany Escalona was charged with felony tampering with evidence after diving and burying a bag of wrung tails in...
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Diving, Keys Critters, Marathon, Wildlife Mobsters
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